58 The Calm
There was always a calm before the storm, that simple little bit where everything is smooth and calm before a hurricane crashes over you. It is truly a lovely time, usually with sun and a light breeze, just enough to keep the air cool and fresh. Yet there is always a sense of foreboding, of the unseen creeping up on you. The weeks after the Easter break felt much like that.
They agreed with Professor McGonagall's offer the Friday before the break began. They told her their plans to shift focus to the practical more than theory, for the exams were weighted that way as well. It also helped that being able to do something usually allowed most people to understand at least a little of how it was done. If this were Arithmancy or Runes classes, the shift would have been the other way, but Defense was definitely a practical heavy class.
Dumbledore had arrived at the meeting with the Board to sign their contract looking rather happy. They had expected this and the resulting conversation was the cause of much mirth for the couple for weeks to follow.
"If I will not be listened to about the unsuitability of these two, let us get this over with," Dumbledore pouted, though the gleam never left his eyes. He pulled a rolled parchment from his robes and laid it on the table, followed by a quill and ink pot.
"Headmaster, that does not appear to be a standard contract," Hermione looked over the old man's shoulder at the document.
"It is not, I made some necessary changes due to your age and the situation," Albus admitted, moving to block her view slightly and sign the document himself. "It is fairly standard, just some adjustments due to there being two of you and such."
"I see." Hermione moved to sign, then waved a wand over the parchment. "And the charms on it are there for?"
"Merely standard binding charms, any contract would have them," the headmaster waved her concern off.
"They normally activate after the document is signed." She pulled the roll open, dodging the headmaster's grab for the document and whistled. "I should say this isn't standard, I'd hope every teacher isn't bound to follow any order you give them on pain of loss of their Magic."
"Albus!" Minerva grabbed the offending paper, reading it for herself. "Obedience, forfeiture of pay to you, and control of their vaults? What kind of trickery is this?"
"Headmaster!" the Head of the Board reprimanded Dumbledore. "What is the meaning of this?"
"They are young and inexperienced, they are best following my guidance."
"There is a difference between following and being forced, namely the notion of choice," Harry countered. "And why should we not be compensated as we are filling a normally available, standard teaching position? I really don't think giving you control of our vaults is very standard either."
"There are needs that you are not aware of, Mr Potter," Albus began, only to be cut off by McGonagall.
"Are they needs I'm unaware of too?" Her tone caused a barely suppressed shiver to crawl down Dumbledore's back. "You have already shown far too much interest in the lives of these two, to the point of using, or at the very least allowing, spells and potions to try and manipulate things around them."
"Chairman," Hermione stopped the conflict from escalating further. "We agree that a standard contract would not fit our circumstances. However, we have had our own modified contract drawn up by some legal help. We would like to submit it for the Board's consideration."
"Modified how?" the cautious Chairman asked, glancing at the unrepentant Dumbledore.
"Most of the standard contract is still there, the main points of modification are as follows. Since we are two people filling a normally single person position, we will be paid the same as that single teacher would be. As there is only a few months left in the term, the school shall purchase a set of fifteen spare books, per year using that book, plus a full classroom set, for each of the three books we intend to use in class. As an addendum, we have negotiated with Flourish and Blotts to buy back those books at a reasonable markdown at the end of the year, subject to condition and usability."
"That seems reasonable and the option for the buyback is well thought out, Miss," the Chairman smiled at her.
"It's Mrs, and thank you," Hermione smiled back, though it never reached her eyes. "There are just two other major changes to the contract. We are not to be answerable, in any way, to Headmaster Dumbledore. We will deal—"
"Unacceptable!" Dumbledore slammed his hand on the table in outrage. "I am the Headmaster of this school, and you will answer to me!"
"Headmaster," Harry answered the outburst coldly. "You have tried on multiple occasions to manipulate and outright demand our obedience to you on matters both in and out of school. You have denied me my choice of classes, tried to arrange for the release of my relatives, who were convicted of child abuse, so I could be placed back with them. You even tried to forcibly annul my marriage. You will not now, nor ever have any control over my life again."
"That is an oversimplification of—"
"Do you deny it?" Harry cut the attempt to trivialize the accusation off.
"As I said, it is—"
"Yes or no, Headmaster, did you do those things?" This time it was the Chairman who cut Albus off.
"There were good reasons, which I am unable to divulge—"
"We shall take that as a yes, and as such enforce this clause whatever the final version of this contract will be," The Chairman cut the explanation short. "Such gross abuse of power is very unbecoming."
"Thank you Chairman," Hermione bowed slightly. " The final stipulation we have concerns the Potions Master, Severus Snape."
"Professor Snape is a trusted and valuable member of the staff," Albus defended his pawn vigorously.
"We will not debate his value as a staff member or a teacher at this time," Harry conceded. "What we are asking is that he be barred from any interference in our class or discipline. He has shown many times in the past an irrational streak when it comes to us."
"It may seem like that to you Mr Potter, but Severus has my complete trust," Albus smiled grandfatherly at them.
"He has ours too, we trust him to abuse his position, bully students, and be as nasty and demeaning as possible," Hermione agreed happily. "He takes points for ridiculous reasons from anyone not in his house, counters deductions given to his students, and is so cruel to students he is at least one individual's personal Boggart."
"That is an exaggeration."
"We have proof." Harry turned to the Chairman. "Professor McGonagall has brought with her the point tracking book, which records all granting and deduction of points as well as the stated reasons. We also have Neville Longbottom outside willing, reluctantly to be sure, to testify to professor Snape being his Boggart's form."
"I really don't think this is necessary," the Headmaster stepped in, trying to stop this line before things got messy.
"Backpedaling already?" Hermione asked sweetly. "We will agree to modify our request if you agree to have alI point deductions reviewed and verified as legitimate. That includes our own, since we should be watched as such matters are new to us and guidance in this is to be expected."
"I agree, I shall—"
"Objection, you have already stated you have complete confidence in Professor Snape, so your objectivity is questionable at best. I propose a tribunal of the other three Heads of House. This will prevent any one individual from being in complete control. If there is a situation that warrants more information to determine the accuracy of the award, they can meet with the persons involved and a board member on Saturdays to determine the validity of the claim."
"I don't think that is neccessar—"
"Ten points from Gryffindor for slouching. Five points from Ravenclaw for being a know-it-all. Ten points to Slytherin for wearing a tie smartly. Five points from Hufflepuff for being a dunderhead. Five points to Slytherin for stirring correctly. Fifteen points from Gryffindor for breathing and wasting oxygen. Do I need to go on?" McGonagall looked up from the book she had just been reading out of, looking at both Dumbledore and the Chairman.
The cheers in the Great Hall the Saturday the students left when the announcement was made at breakfast was enormous. Not only were Harry and Hermione officially welcomed as Associate Professors, but all point awards and deductions would be henceforth reviewed weekly and questionable incidents investigated. The look on Snape's face when he was informed he was now on probation, with random audits by other Heads of House and Board members, was even better.
With their new positions confirmed, the pair went home for the first weekend of the break, but were back on Monday beginning to adjust and plan their classes. Dumbledore still showed up at random times, seemingly to try and catch them abusing their position, but he never succeeded.
Rather than move into the staff wing, the pair agreed with Professor McGonagall that simply staying in their current quarters was better, though they did add an exterior entrance so they didn't have to go through the Gryffindor common room.
The first day of class was rough, especially since it had the fifth year Slytherins, but that was to be expected.
"What are we supposed to learn from you, Scarhead? How to run away?" Draco Malfoy asked loudly as class began.
"That will be two points from Slytherin and a detention for disrespect to a professor, Mr Malfoy," Harry answered calmly. "And the answer to your question is yes."
"What? You're a student, I'm a prefect, you can't take points from me!"
"I'm a professor, Mr Malfoy, and before you bother, your father and your Head of House will be informed of this as a matter of course. All of our point awards and deductions are being audited for the first month of our contract," Harry cut off the tirade.
"Professor?"
"Yes Ms Brown?" Harry turned, leaving Malfoy gaping like a fish out of water.
"Did you just say you were going to teach us to run away?" Lavender asked, confused.
"I did, it is after all one of the best defenses. Don't be there." Harry looked around, taking in the confused looks, then sighed. He hopped up on the desk at the front of the room and asked the question. "What is the best way to survive a fight?"
"Win."
"Beat the other guy."
Many more answers came, most along the same lines from the Slytherins. The Gryffindors, however, tended to be along the lines of survival, which garnered laughter from their green robed classmates.
"You're all right, and all wrong," Harry declared, hopping off the desk. "Mr Nott, you are defending your family in an alley. Your opponent shoots a Reductor curse at you, which you dodge and defeat him with a stunning spell. Did you win?"
"Of course. I didn't get hit and he was defeated," the Slytherin preened.
"So the Reductor that hit your mother in the face doesn't concern you?"
"What?"
"You won, you defeated your opponent, and you survived. Isn't that the victory you wanted?"
"What're you playing at Potter?" the skinny kid demanded, rising in his seat.
"That is Professor Potter," Harry reminded again in cold tones. "And my point is there are many ways to determine a victory. But not all victories are worth winning. If you sacrifice what is precious to you, what makes the battle worth fighting? Is it really a victory?"
Quiet contemplation followed, finally interrupted by a snort from Malfoy.
"I thought this was a Defense class, not a sob story," he sneered, dripping with contempt.
"Okay, Mr Malfoy, let's play out a scenario," Harry loomed over the pompous Slytherin. "You have made it very evident you believe that those of pure blood — the ones who have had magic in their family for generations — are superior, correct?"
"They are, it's a fact."
"And yet, of the top five in your year, four are half-blood or Muggle born," Harry countered. "But that is not the point I wish to make. The supposed pillar of this belief was Lord Voldemort, correct? Ignore his terrorist actions, let's just examine his beliefs. He was the paragon of pureblood power and rectitude."
"He's the greatest example of a pureblood in generations," Malfoy agreed happily.
"He is? I admit I'm not familiar with as much of wizarding Britain's old families as some, but I am unaware of a noble wizarding family named Voldemort," Harry stroked his chin. "How can he be a pureblood Lord if he's not from one of the noble families?"
"He's the Heir of Slytherin, the Noblest family!" defended Malfoy.
"He was, I'll agree with that. Though after I defeated him for the third time he lost that title by Right of Conquest," Harry agreed. "But Voldemort is not the family that holds the title of Heirs of Slytherin. That would be the Gaunt family."
"So he's a son of the Gaunts. He's still the Heir."
"Well, if he was a son of a male Gaunt, his name would be Gaunt,'' Harry countered, moving back towards the front of the classroom. "To not be named Gaunt, he'd be the son of the last daughter of that family, Merope."
"So?"
"So Merope only had one son. A powerful wizard to be sure, but his father's name was not Voldemort. We already established that there is no wizarding family by that name. She instead was married to a man named Tom Riddle, and her son was named Tom Marvolo Riddle, after her father and the baby's father." Harry wrote the name out on the board. "So he can't be Lord Voldemort, can he?"
"So he changed his name, so what?"
"You are correct, he did change his name," Harry agreed happily with Malfoy's answer. "He hated his name, but he used it as inspiration for his new name."
As Harry spoke, he wrote the sentence 'I am Lord Voldemort' below Tom Marvolo Riddle. He then began to draw lines between letters, showing the same letters in both lines.
"So you proved Lord Voldemort is a pureblood son of the Gaunt family, so what?"
"Did I say he was pureblood?" Harry challenged. "I showed he was the son of Merope Gaunt. But tell me this, is there a wizarding family named Riddle? No? Correct, there isn't. You see, Tom Riddle Senior was a well to do muggle who lived near the Gaunts. Merope fancied him, potioned him, married him, and bore his son." Harry let the shocked silence linger for a second before continuing. "By your vaunted pureblood ideals, the so-called greatest example of pureblood supremacy, is a half-blood. So should his movement win, should they succeed, their idol will prove their crusade false."
"LIES!" Malfoy stood angrily, his eyes full of fury.
"Prove me wrong,'' Harry answered calmly. "There are records everywhere, even here at Hogwarts. Look up Tom Marvolo Riddle. He was a Slytherin, prefect and Head Boy. Even got an award for special services to the school in 1943 when he framed Rubeus Hagrid for opening the Chamber of Secrets. Then, after a few years of being an errand boy in Knockturn Alley, he disappeared. A dozen years later, the Dark Lord Voldemort made his appearance, rekindling the same circle of friends that followed Tom Riddle as a student under the new name Death Eaters."
Quiet settled over the classroom, as everyone took in his words. Even Malfoy, red faced as he was, could not argue with Harry telling him to verify things himself. Heads nodded here and there, while others seemed lost in thought at the revelations. He quietly walked around, letting the class settle with the news before continuing.
"This is an example of the lesson for today," he finally spoke to the quiet room. "There are so many ways to disguise oneself, or to manipulate information, that you must find things for yourself. You have seen it even here. The accusations of me being the Heir of Slytherin, no proof, yet everyone believed it regardless."
"But Harry!" At Harry's raised eyebrow, Padma flushed and hurried to correct herself. "Sorry, Professor Potter. You said that you are the Heir of Slytherin."
"I am, but I did not defeat Tom Riddle for a third time until the beginning of summer in 1993," he corrected gently. "I understand this will be a tough transition, me going from a classmate to a professor, but as long as you are respectful and not intentionally derogatory with names such as Scarhead, a few mistakes are to be expected and tolerated.
"Now to get back to my original point, running away." He turned his head, searching the room. "Mr Thomas, assume for the moment my assertion about Lord Voldemort is correct, that he is a half-blood. Also assume he succeeds and takes over Magical Britain in the name of the purebloods, has he won?"
"Yes sir," Dean answered after a minute.
"Why?"
"Well, he personally has taken power, he leads the so-called movement and will likely change his records to reflect the persona he has assumed," Dean ticked off his fingers. "He has succeeded in his goals and now rules Britain. If you are asking if the purebloods win, that is a bit harder to say. Their rules and beliefs have been raised to be law, yet it is tainted by the leadership of one who would be beneath them by their own rhetoric."
"Exactly. Tom Riddle would have won, he would have seized power, and accomplished his goals,'' Harry got excited, relishing the stoking of the minds of his fellows. "But the purebloods, well, that's different. Yes, their ideals now have primacy, but they have sacrificed the very basis of that belief to accomplish their goals."
Class was now in session
After submitting oaths to the truthfulness of their testimony, and Malfoy mouthing off even more, the first set of reviews were confirmed, though Draco had more point loss and detentions after leaving, due to his attitude. Threatening the Board member who was overseeing the review process did not have the effect he had desired.
From there, he stayed quiet. The Auror investigation into his assault attempt on Hermione led to a Wizengamot hearing where he was reprimanded, but only given a warning due to the 'influence of those he was taught to respect' — which basically meant that Umbridge was at fault, and he was just following orders. The rest of the inquiry followed much the same vein, and everyone saw the truth. The Ministry and Lucius Malfoy's money had decided to scapegoat Umbridge, as she was already tainted goods.
Things settled after that, though there were still issues with Slytherins in class. They attended, even took notes, but unless forced they did not participate. Harry and Hermione found this frustrating but acceptable, as it allowed them more time to focus on those who did desire to learn. The flow of the school settled out, and exams came and went. They split the duties of proctoring the tests, allowing them both to take their own remaining OWLs and a few NEWTs, while still supporting their students.
It was the day after the last exams, a clear and sunny day, when it happened. The couple had decided to take a long walk around the lake to relax, the year was over and they could unwind. From the woods near them, a rustle was their only warning before Draco Malfoy could be heard taunting them.
"Enjoy your trip, Scarhead."
The impact of something on his twisting shoulder was all the only thing he felt before the hook in his navel pulled him away, taking Hermione with him.
